Chapter 170: A Stroll Through the Market
Stelle and March 7th both shot down Dan Heng's proposed itinerary, closing in on him with matching expressions of complaint.
"Oh, Dan Heng, you really don't understand the first thing about hospitality!" Stelle declared, planting her hands on her hips with a look that screamed, 'You're so boring.' "Our friends just traveled across entire worlds to get here and they haven't even had a chance to catch their breath! They absolutely need to explore Okhema first and experience its unique local customs!"
"Exactly, exactly!" March 7th chimed in, nodding so vigorously her hair bounced. "How can you just drag people into some dusty old archives for academic research the moment they arrive? How dull is that! Exploration isn't a timed exam; there's no need to rush, is there?"
Listening to his two companions, Dan Heng felt a familiar sense of resignation. He realized he might have been a bit too focused on goals and efficiency, completely overlooking everyone's feelings and interests. His suggestion had indeed been too eager. He turned his questioning gaze to the one person who could settle the matter. "Mr. Zhongli, what is your opinion?"
Zhongli gave a slight, thoughtful nod. "It is of no issue to me," he said slowly, his voice a calm baritone. "I am quite curious about the unique history and governing principles of this place, so consulting historical materials is precisely to my liking. also, understanding the world's background is, in itself, a way to advance the event's exploration progress. It is not entirely unrelated to 'playing,' as you put it."
Seeing that Mr. Zhongli himself was interested, Stelle and March 7th couldn't very well continue to object.
And so, the group quickly decided to split into two teams. Dan Heng and Zhongli would head to the archives to begin their research. The rest of them, led by a triumphant Stelle, would first visit Okhema's bustling Cloudstone Market to experience the local culture before beginning their own official exploration mission.
In truth, when Wise heard the words 'historical research,' a glimmer of keen interest had flashed in his eyes. He instinctively started to raise his hand to join Dan Heng's team.
Unfortunately, Belle seemed to have anticipated her brother's every thought. She swiftly caught his sleeve, her grip gentle but firm, preventing him from volunteering.
In Belle's eyes, her brother had already been working himself to the bone for days, helping establish the new Belobog branch in Wildfire. Just last night, he had stayed up all night finalizing the operational plan for the next few days, barely getting any rest at all. Now that he finally had the chance to visit a brand-new world, it was time to relax and clear his head. How could she let him immediately throw himself back into more tedious research?
She gave him a small, subtle shake of her head, her eyes filled with a soft, obvious concern.
Wise looked from his sister's worried face to Dan Heng and Zhongli, who were already preparing to depart. He could only offer a helpless smile and let his hand fall back to his side. He understood his sister's good intentions, and a quiet warmth spread through his chest. He decided to put the research aside for now and simply enjoy this rare moment of leisure.
Okhema's Cloudstone Market certainly lived up to its name. The wide stone avenues were packed with a constant, shoulder-to-shoulder flow of people, and the air buzzed with an extraordinary cacophony of voices, music, and the clatter of commerce.
Shops of every imaginable style stood in neat rows, their awnings a riot of color. They sold peculiar goods from all corners of Amphoreus, from shimmering ores to bizarrely shaped flora, alongside handicrafts that showcased the unique cultural signatures of different regions.
Although Stelle had cheerfully dubbed their mission "exploration (shopping)," the market itself proved to be a massive hub of information.
To attract business and sell their wares, vendors and shop owners enthusiastically regaled the group with the origins, characteristics, and often wildly embellished historical legends behind their products, easily identifying them as "outsiders."
While the merchants' tales were inevitably exaggerated and far-fetched, their stories—combined with the dazzling array of goods on display—gave Stelle, March 7th, Lumine, Paimon, Wise, and Belle a preliminary, intuitive understanding of the customs and character of Amphoreus's various regions.
If Dan Heng had been present, he would surely have been pleased. As they strolled through the market, listening to these regionally rich stories, the "World Exploration Progress" on the [Temporary Guide to Amphoreus] event page in their chat group interface was indeed slowly but steadily increasing.
It seemed the system recognized this immersive cultural experience as a valid form of exploration after all.
Most of the group was thoroughly lost in the simple joy of shopping.
Belle couldn't seem to put down the various styles of clothing and bolts of unfamiliar fabric, her fingers tracing the complex weaves.
March 7th, true to form, had zero resistance to any and all kinds of cute crafts and souvenirs, her bag already starting to fill with small trinkets.
And though Wise kept muttering about "saving some money," he still carefully picked out a few small gifts for Belle and their friends back in Wildfire. For them, this kind of carefree, cross-world shopping trip was a truly rare and precious opportunity.
If there was one shop that left the deepest impression on Paimon, however, it was definitely the "Cloudstone Restaurant."
As noon approached, the group decided to have lunch at the popular-looking establishment. The restaurant's owner, a boisterously enthusiastic man named Kres, strongly recommended their signature dish—the "Classic Platter."
At first glance, the dish seemed somewhat unpretentious. It was a simple arrangement of several different roasted meats, grilled vegetables, and dipping sauces served on a large wooden plate.
However, a miracle occurred under Kres's passionate explanation. He instructed them to taste the different foods in a specific order, pairing each bite with a particular sauce.
The textures and flavors began to layer and progress, blending and complementing each other in a way none of them could have anticipated. It was an extremely wonderful and harmonious experience, each bite building upon the last. By the time they finished the final piece, everyone was leaning back in their chairs, lost in the ultimate enjoyment of the rich, balanced aftertaste, unable to pull themselves away from the sensation.
"Too… too delicious!" Paimon exclaimed, excitedly stomping her little feet in mid-air, her face flushed with pure culinary bliss. "This is simply the most layered platter Paimon has ever eaten! Owner, you're amazing! My review is… super-duper incredibly delicious!"
Even Stelle and March 7th were offering the highest praise. "Wow! Seriously! I didn't expect it to be this good. I regret not eating it sooner!"
"Mmm-hmm!" March hummed in agreement. "This is definitely the best meal we've had since coming to Okhema!"
Having eaten and drunk their fill, everyone continued their contented stroll. Before they knew it, they had wandered to the edge of the market, arriving near the Great Land Beast Workshop.
Stelle's eyes immediately lit up as she spotted the huge creatures lying docilely in their pens, their forms like small, resting mountains. "Look, look! Those are Great Land Beasts! It's a must-do experience when you come to Okhema! Come on, I'll take everyone for a ride!"
The group approached the workshop, gazing up at the rows of Great Land Beasts. They were as tall as small hills, with skin as rough and craggy as rock, yet they exuded a surprisingly gentle aura. The sheer visual impact of the scene left everyone deeply shocked, especially Wise and Belle. For two people from the high-tech metropolis of New Eridu, such gigantic living creatures were something they had never even imagined.
"We rode on Great Land Beasts to get to Okhema before!" Stelle announced proudly.
"That's right, that's right! You can even sleep on them!" March 7th added.
But when Lumine asked about the specific origins and habits of these magnificent beasts, Stelle and March 7th just looked at each other, stammering. They had been so focused on the novelty of the ride and getting some rest that they hadn't bothered to learn any details.
Fortunately, a woman in neat work clothes who was inspecting a nearby Land Beast overheard their conversation and walked over with a friendly smile. "It sounds like you're curious about our companions."
The woman, Lucretia, enthusiastically explained the origin of the Great Land Beasts to the group. They were not naturally born creatures, she revealed, but gentle giants created by the "Land Titan" in ancient times. Over the millennia, they had become indispensable partners in the development of the Chrysos Heirs' civilization.
[Inorin's Note:
Enjoying the story? Dropping a quick review, comment, or Power Stone means the world to me and keeps these daily updates flowing!
Want to read 50 chapters ahead or just want to help keep a shameless translator alive? (My livelihood actually depends on this, haha 😭). You can support me directly here:
(P.S. Just remove the brackets and replace the [.] with a regular dot . to use the links!)
✨ Patreon (50 Advanced Chapters): patreon[.]com/InorinTL
☕ Ko-fi (Support / Sponsor): ko-fi[.]com/InorinTL
Thank you so much for reading and keeping this project alive!]